Guest Opinion: Climate change is the Trojan horse that sits on Troy's doorstep

The legend of Troy tells of the princess Cassandra, who was plagued with the ability to predict the future, but was unable to alter its course. Today, numerous reports detail the threat that global climate change poses to our way of life, but it wasn't until last week that our national leadership finally broke the curse of Cassandra and heeded the call to action.

The legend of Troy tells of the princess Cassandra, who was plagued with the ability to predict the future, but was unable to alter its course. Today, numerous reports detail the threat that global climate change poses to our way of life, but it wasn’t until last week that our national leadership finally broke the curse of Cassandra and heeded the call to action.

Throughout the United States, including here in Massachusetts, climate change threatens our planet much like the Greeks threatened ancient Troy. Our coastal roads are vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surges. Saltwater is beginning to intrude on our freshwater aquifers. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe and heavier rainfall and higher sea levels will only exacerbate damage from storms like Hurricane Sandy. Scientists predict that without immediate action, the impacts of climate change could become far worse.

Fortunately, President Obama recognizes the problem and is taking action. On June 2, his EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy announced a new Clean Power Plan, the first-ever federal action to limit carbon pollution from power plants. Power plants are the largest single source of global warming pollution in the United States, accounting for about 40 percent of emissions.

Amazingly, the nation’s 50 dirtiest power plants dump more carbon into the atmosphere than all but six other entire countries. The president’s plan will reduce these emissions by 30 percent. The Clean Power Plan represents the largest single step any U.S. president has ever taken to combat global warming.

Massachusetts is already walking the walk when it comes to addressing climate change. The Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act passed in 2008 sets a statewide cap on carbon emissions, and our participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will help reduce emissions from power plants here and in eight other states 20 percent by 2020.

We’re also investing in the framework of a clean energy economy, first and foremost by using energy more wisely. Policies like the Green Communities Act have driven investments in smart energy savings. Those investments are already paying off. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has ranked Massachusetts first in the country two years running when it comes to using energy wisely, and households and businesses are reaping the benefits in the form of lower energy bills. But just saving energy isn’t enough. So, in Massachusetts we’re also moving forward clean energy options like solar and wind to replace old polluting coal plants.

Recently, the Patrick administration finalized plans to quadruple the state’s solar capacity by 2020, which will match the amount of power that was generated by New England’s largest coal fired power plant. Policies like net metering and the solar renewable energy credit program, and creative programs like Solarize Massachusetts, will help sustain solar energy’s exponential growth in the Bay State. Already, the city of Boston ranks third among major Northeast cities in terms of installed solar energy capacity. Soon, the spinning turbines of Cape Wind will fuel much of Cape Cod’s energy needs, expanding and diversifying our clean energy portfolio.

Page 2 of 2 - But when it comes to tackling climate change, Massachusetts can’t go it alone. After all, the United States boasts the world’s largest economy and is also the second-largest emitter of the pollution that fuels climate change. Our nation must lead the international community, rather than dragging its feet when it comes to addressing this global crisis.

That’s why we’re thrilled that President Obama has come up with a nationwide plan to cut carbon emissions. It’s not a one-size-fits-all plan. So, the Clean Power Plan includes reduction targets on a state-by-state basis and offers a plethora of flexible options to be used in designing plans for compliance with the reductions. The plan’s flexibility will allow for states to create their own approaches to curbing pollution levels and will be a key factor in effectively mitigating carbon pollution across the nation.

Today, the Trojan horse that is climate change sits on our doorstep. A mountain of evidence has shown us the severity and scale of the issue and it has become clear that now is the time for action. The tale of Cassandra ends in tragedy, with the Greeks defeating the Trojans despite Cassandra’s warning of their imminent assault. The EPA’s Clean Power Plan stands as a decisive plan of action against the impending threat of climate change and is an exceptional start in making sure that we do not befall the same fate as Cassandra and the people of Troy.